(22.01.2008) The five commanders argue that the west‘s values and way of life are under threat, but the west is struggling to summon the will to defend them. The key threats are:

· Political fanaticism and religious fundamentalism.

· The „dark side“ of globalisation, meaning international terrorism, organised crime and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

· Climate change and energy security, entailing a contest for resources and potential „environmental“ migration on a mass scale.

· The weakening of the nation state as well as of organisations such as the UN, Nato and the EU.